Tripartite

Part the Third

23. Chemical

Ulquiorra had read somewhere that the feeling of love was created by a chemical, but surely the feeling of euphoria, terror, satisfaction and exasperation couldn't all be caused by a single, simple chemical!

24. Lamp

Inoue thought that her boys looked much better in lamp light rather than in the harsh light of Las Noches; Ulquiorra's stern exterior lowered, and Grimmjow's demeanour relaxed, not to mention the amazing sex that usually occurred with the lowered lights.

25. Torture

She had been captured, dragged away from Las Noches kicking and screaming, and locked up in Seireitei; and there was no more effective torture – make no mistake, her surroundings may be beautiful, and the clothing comfortable around her growing stomach, but she would have preferred to be locked behind visible bars and dressed in rags, and dear God, this hurt.

26. Sob

Shiba Kaien peered through the warded window of Inoue Orihime's confinement, his heart twisting in his chest as he saw the pretty girl curled in the corner, hands wrapped around her belly, sobbing, totally oblivious to the efforts of her fairies to cheer her up.

27. Captain

Any impassioned argument he had prepared simply washed off Ukitake's countenance like water off marble, until he said – "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her."

28. Hair

You would have to be blind to see the damage which Orihime's confinement was causing; her hair, once like thick auburn silk, was now matted, dull, and lifeless.

29. Forbidden

No one spoke their names around Orihime any more, not least because of the child she was carrying.

30. Storm

The sky had been crackling with barely restrained fury the night Inoue Orihime was liberated from her jewelled cage; Ukitake was in the middle of a relapse, and the two Thirds were attending him, so the presence of Shiba – fukutaichou and Ise – fukutaichou was not unusual.

31. Forest

They had picked her up and shunpo'ed away, seeking refuge in the bamboo groves around the edges of the Thirteenth's boundaries, where Ise had removed the tracking bracelet, before leading the way to the edges of Seireitei.

32. Rain

Orihime was shaken out of her stupor by the presence of Kyouraku Shunsui, attired in a suitably rich kimono that was thoroughly soaked through from the rain.

33. Illusion

She had feared the worst, upon being brought to the Kyouraku mansion in the Third East Rukongai, had thought that it was all a lie, but the way Ise's eyes were reddened behind her flashing glasses suggested the complete opposite.

34. Happiness

Kyouraku Shunsui watched Inoue wandering around the courtyard, comfortable in her loose yukata, smiling and laughing as butterflies and her fairies danced around her; seeing this only firmed his resolve that they really had been doing her harm by keeping her away from life, not when she embodied it.

35. Surprise

The look on Inoue-san's face made Nanao feel like she had done something holy when the girl felt the familiar tendrils of Ulquiorra's reiatsu.

36. Kindness

What really surprised the fukutaichou of the Eighth was the utter tenderness and care and love in the way he enfolded Orihime into his arms, bearing her weight easily.

37. Eyes

When Inoue asked about Grimmjow, she was reclining on Ulquiorra's chest, gray eyes drinking in every aspect of his being, all she got was, "He's been hurt, but he'll make it."

38. Sound

She pushed up into a sitting position, and was staring in horror at Ulquiorra, when a familiar voice, though raspy, flowed around her: "Don't scare her like that, Schiffer."

Wow, this is a quick update! So, the storyline kind of carries on from 'Regret'. The idea is that Ichigo and various other Shinigami attacked Las Noches and abducted Orihime, bringing her back to Seireitei, where she was imprisoned in the Thirteenth Division. She reacts very badly at being torn away from her loves, and quickly spirals into a deep depression. Shiba Kaien, who she previously brought back to life and who was delivered to Rukia's bed by ....(lol thinking) Harribel (there we go!), is feeling really guilty over the unjust imprisonment of Orihime, and tries to reason with Ukitake.

This doesn't go well until Kaien pulls out the "I wouldn't be here if she hadn't been there" gambit, and it sends Ukitake into a relapse. It is then that he finds out that Ise Nanao and Kyouraku Shunsui have been planning to spring Orihime from her imprisonment, and he demands in. They acquiesce, and Ise and Shiba break Inoue out of the Thirteenth. They sneak ninja-style out of Seireitei during a raging storm (Can be seen as a metaphor for Orihime's state of mind.... or a plot device) and Inoue goes with Kyouraku and Ise, whilst Shiba heads back to Seireitei.

Inoue slowly recovers at Kyouraku's house, with Ise looking after her, and Shunsui popping by occasionally. Spring comes, and Inoue has fully recovered (and is very heavily pregnant by now). Ulquiorra and Grimmjow come for a visit, and... You'll have to wait to see what happens next!

Lol, sorry for the massive TL; DR Author's Note, but I have been told that my writing is difficult to follow occasionally. And thank you to the non-lurkerpancakes, I shower you with internets and coupons for Taco Aizen. Everyone else? Gets nothing, because I hate you who don't respond.
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